Marathon runners continue despite race being cancelled due to 'lack of water'

Spectators were buying out water supplies from shops and handing out bottles
to runners determined to complete the Sheffield Half Marathon, despite it
being officially cancelled by organisers due to a lack of water

Charlotte Sidwick Tweeted this photo of strangers handing out drinks and sweets to people in the Sheffield Half MarathonPhoto: ‏@charlottesid

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"I went into a local shop and bought all the bottles they had and stood outside the shop and handed them out to runners as they started to go past. When they had gone I went for the big bottles and these went too.

"One runner going past thanked me and gave me £10 to buy some more."

Spectators hand out water (@drsachinsalvi)

Mr Redfern, who missed his partner doing the race because he was buying water, said he saw thousands of runners taking part - despite it being officially cancelled. Some runners, most of whom had waited half an hour to start, had torn off their numbers after being told they could not officially compete.

Nick Clegg, the deputy Prime Minister and Sheffield Hallam MP, has called for a “full explanation” for the situation.

“I know thousands of people have trained long and hard for this event, with many running for some outstanding local charities and others coming from around the country to take part or watch,” he said.

“I can only imagine how disappointed they must have been when they learned that the race was cancelled as they were on the start line ready to set off.”

He also praised spectators for handing out water.

Officers from South Yorkshire Police had attempted to put road blocks in place on Sunday to try and divert runners to a shorter course after most started the race when the official cancellation was announced.

They said officers on motorbikes had asked runners to go on a different shorter route.

A man carries a pack of bottled water for the runners (JOANNE MATHIESON)

In a statement, the force said: "There was initially a police presence on the parts of the marathon route to assist with the road closures to motorists to protect those participating in the run.

"Despite the cancellation, a large number of participants have still chosen to run the half marathon.

"Working with the organisers, officers attempted to speak to participants who had chosen to run and divert them on to a shorter route to the finish line."

A message posted by Sheffield Marathon, the organisers, just before 11am said: “It is with huge dissapointment & regret that we have been forced to cancel this year's race due to a problem with the delivery of water.”

Just two hours earlier the organisers had posted messages asking runners and spectators to post their pictures of the race.

They later apologised for the incident and said those who had crossed the finish line with their numbers would have their times recorded.

Other spectators tweeted messages of their support for the rogue runners taking part in the race.

&lt;noframe&gt;Twitter: Jammy Dodger - What laws are the Police using to set up roadblocks &amp;amp; STOP people going for a jog in the Sheffield half-Marathon? &lt;a href="https://twitter.com/search?src=hash&amp;q=%23ACAB" target="_blank"&gt;#ACAB&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/noframe&gt;

&lt;noframe&gt;Twitter: SilverFox - Cancellation of Sheffield half marathon at such late notice is a joke. Big up to the people running it anyway. Common sense prevails&lt;/noframe&gt;

Anthony Sargent wrote: "Rebel runners do Sheffield half marathon with water given out by public. Go Sheffy! pic.twitter.com/KJx5mVsa2D” great scenes"

BBC Radio Sheffield said that Toby Spencer, from Solihull, was the first person to cross the finish line at Don Valley Bowl. He said it was his "first and last race here".

Margaret Lilley, chairwoman of the race organisers, said the company they had asked to supply water had not turned up for the race on Sunday, but all 5,000 runners set off anyway.

She said: "We have scoured supermarkets around the city, but unfortunately we have not been able to secure enough water for the medical-and-safety officers of the race to say it is safe to go ahead. We therefore took the very reluctant decision to cancel the race."